Celebrating Small Business Saturday 2015

The city is gearing up for Small Business Saturday on 5 December 2015. Small Business Saturday is a national event championing small traders and encouraging people to buy local goods and services.  Brighton & Hove City Council is coordinating a range of activities to mark the day.

Council leader Warren Morgan says: “Small Business Saturday is a great opportunity to shine a light on independent businesses in Brighton & Hove and to support and celebrate the diversity, innovation and quality they bring to our city’s economy. Small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy, and a big part of what makes our city so unique and so appealing as a place to shop and work. I’m committed to the council supporting them through Small Business Saturday and year round, enabling them to grow effectively and drive economic growth across the city and the Greater Brighton City Region.”

The first weekend of December is traditionally a key shopping time when streets are buzzing with people seeking festive gifts. Across the city, small businesses and traders will be celebrating this busy weekend with a range of extra activities to treat customers and encourage trade.

To keep up with the latest events and offers follow #SmallBizSatUK and check out local information. Here are a few examples of what’s happening in the city for this year’s Small Business Saturday.

Many local businesses are taking part in the council-backed initiative Goodmoney gift voucher scheme. The gift vouchers are  available from Brighton-based social enterprise Goodmoney CIC and can be used in a growing network of independent shops, cafes, restaurants, clubs, artists and many other businesses signed up to the scheme. Details of where to buy vouchers and participating businesses can be found at www.goodmoney.co.uk

Led by Artist Anon, traders in the West Pier Arches are creating a celebration atmosphere with music playing and mulled wine on offer. Discounts will be available from various traders in the arches too.

Hove Business Partnership, with support from Brighton & Hove City Council, is organising a competition for shoppers in Hove and Portslade. Starting on Small Business Saturday and running until Monday 21 December, the “Christmas Gift Hunt” sees more than 30 shops taking part. The game involves customers looking out for Christmas boxes in participating stores and completing an entry form when 12 boxes have been found.  More information can be found on the Hove Business Association website: www.hovebiz.com/news/christmas-gift-hunt/

A networking event for small businesses is being organised by Mojo Coffee House and will be held at their Queens Road branch in Brighton on Small Business Saturday. Small businesses owners are being invited to attend to share advice and ideas. More information has been added to a Facebook event listing about the get together: www.facebook.com/events/1088895947801866/

In the city centre, American Express has installed a power-generating pavement along Meeting House Lane. Shoppers walking down the pavement will make the Christmas lights shine and sparkle. Power-generating pavement tiles, invented by tech start-up Pavegen, harness the kinetic energy of footsteps and convert it into renewable energy. For one week, from Monday 30 November, the footsteps of an estimated 41,000 shoppers will light up 400 Christmas lights along the street. The installation highlights the impact consumers can have by pounding the pavements of their local high streets and shopping small this festive season.

More information:

Have a look at a roundup of what’s happening in Brighton & Hove:

www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/smallbusiness
www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/event/small-business-saturday

Small Business Saturday is a grassroots campaign that exists to support, inspire and promote small businesses both on the day and beyond.  In 2014, SBS was supported by 16.5m people who spent over £500m at small businesses on the day.

Brighton & Hove was chosen as a focus for the advance preparations for Small Business Saturday. The national Small Business Saturday Tour Bus stopped in Brighton on Monday 23 November to provide information for local businesses and help boost trade: www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/press-release/small-business-saturday-bus-tour-visit-brighton